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typoon · May 24, 2005, 08:53 AM

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/0....ap/index.html

Entertainment
Voice of Tony the Tiger dies
Thurl Ravenscroft dead at 91

Tuesday, May 24, 2005 Posted: 7:27 AM EDT (1127 GMT)

FULLERTON, California (AP) -- Thurl Ravenscroft, who provided the rumbling "They're Grrrrreeeat!" for Kellogg's Tony the Tiger ads and voiced a host of Disney characters, has died. He was 91.

Ravenscroft died Sunday of prostate cancer, said Diane Challis Davy, director of Laguna Beach's Pageant of the Masters.

For more than 50 years, Ravenscroft was the affable voice behind Tony the Tiger, TV's popular cartoon pitchman for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes.

"I'm the only man in the world that has made a career with one word: Grrrrreeeat!" Ravenscroft told the Orange County Register in 1996. "When Kellogg's brought up the idea of the tiger, they sent me a caricature of Tony to see if I could create something for them. After messing around for some time I came up with the `Grrrrreeeat!' roar, and that's how it's been since then."

He also narrated the summertime Pageant of the Masters at Laguna Beach for 20 years and lent his voice to characters on thrill rides at Disneyland, including the Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, the Enchanted Tiki Room and the Haunted Mansion.

"Disneyland wouldn't have been, and wouldn't be, the same without him," the park's former president, Jack Lindquist, told the Register. "His voice was one of the things that made it all come alive."

Ravenscroft also did voices for the animated films "Cinderella," "The Jungle Book," "Mary Poppins," "Alice in Wonderland," "Lady and the Tramp" and many others.

Born in Norfolk, Nebraska, Ravenscroft moved to California in 1933 to study art. By the mid-1930s he was appearing regularly on radio, and by the late-1930s he was singing backup for Bing Crosby.

After military service during World War II, he returned to Hollywood, where he sang with the Mellomen, a group that performed with Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Elvis Presley.

In 1952, Ravenscroft's voice appeared in the first Frosted Flakes commercial.

Ravenscroft is survived by two children and four grandchildren. June, his wife of 53 years, died in 1999 at age 80.

joltguy · May 24, 2005, 09:12 AM

I recently saw a TV special on brand marketing that interviewed him... seemed like a real nice nice guy. May he rest in peace.

I wonder if Kelloggs will continue to use a recording of his voice or will bring in someone new.

demograph68 · May 24, 2005, 09:24 AM

The person that created the Tony the tiger brand image also created the Marlboro man.

BoomStick · May 24, 2005, 09:30 AM

I always figured he'd be the victim of a cereal killer.

ManOfSteal · May 24, 2005, 09:30 AM

Didn't the voice of Fred Flintstone pass away this week as well? Bad week for voice-overs.

R.I.P

budster101 · May 24, 2005, 09:38 AM

Sad.

On the brite side, one less law suit to worry about.

cjrivera · May 24, 2005, 09:46 AM

Speaking of voice-over actors dying, May 28 is the anniversary of Phil Hartman's (voice-over talent on the Simpsons) death. Coincidentally, the 1st 2 seasons of Newsradio are supposedly being released today on DVD.

BoomStick · May 24, 2005, 09:48 AM

Phil Hartman was my all time favorite comic.

He was way better on SNL than Newsradio.

budster101 · May 24, 2005, 09:57 AM

Phil Hartman: For certain, one of the greatest comedic talents of our time. Pure genius. I still remember where I was when I heard his wife had shot him dead.

wdlove · May 24, 2005, 12:52 PM

My prayers go out to his family and friends. May he rest in peace.

budster101 · May 24, 2005, 01:23 PM

I'm sure he's just GRRRRRRRRREAT!!!

SORRY.

ort888 · May 24, 2005, 02:15 PM

His family must be feeling a lot of grrrrrrrrreif.

budster101 · May 24, 2005, 03:03 PM

I'm sure he left them in Grrrrrrrrrrrrreat financial shape though.

Sorry again.

ghporter · May 24, 2005, 03:43 PM

What was not mentioned in the obit was that Thurl Ravenscroft sang the songs in the original, animated "How The Grinch Stole Christmas." "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch!"

I'm going to miss Mr. Ravenscroft. Every time I saw or heard him, I thought of the delight I had as a child when I first saw that little bit of animation...

d0dg3 · May 24, 2005, 03:58 PM

yeah, top man, sad to see him pass on

nredman · May 24, 2005, 04:01 PM

bummer RIP - i dont really like frosted flakes though...i dont think they are Greeeeeaaaaattttt

budster101 · May 24, 2005, 04:06 PM

They actually make my teeth hurt...

Grape Nuts for me! "Bear.... Bear.... BEAR!".

lavar78 · May 24, 2005, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by BoomStick

He was way better on SNL than Newsradio.

I couldn't disagree more. As great as he was on SNL, he was even better on NewsRadio. That man was so immensely talented... such a shame.

budster101 · May 25, 2005, 11:02 AM

Who cares where he was most effective as an entertainer for anyone, he was pure comic talent, and could make me laugh with just a look. Not many can do that! Belushi was another that could. You know, he just had that "look"!

Pure Unadultered Funny.